Solemn 9/11 remembrance in Raymond

By GRETYL MACALASTERUnion Leader Correspondent

RAYMOND — Veterans, first responders, town officials and a small group of residents and families gathered on the Town Common on Wednesday evening to remember and honor those lost 12 years ago in the 9/11 attacks on the United States.

.Joanna Ruiz of Raymond brought her two young children and 11-year-old niece to the ceremony on an unseasonably hot September evening to take part.

“They are not going to remember it if you don’t. They won’t know what we are talking about,” Ruiz said...The town has been honoring the anniversary of 9/11 for many years. It is an event that started at the high school and grew to encompass the entire community.

All five members of the town’s board of selectmen were in attendance. Members of the Raymond Fire Department, Police Department and American Legion shot off a 21-gun salute following a moment of silence to remember those who lost their lives on 9/11, and the military members that have continued to fight for the nation’s freedom since that day...This year’s program was themed “Showing Resilience” and town manager Craig Wheeler focused his comments on both recounting the events of Sept. 11, 2001, and the timeliness of the moment of reflection as the nation again ponders its role in the world and the possibility of launching military strikes...The event was recorded by Raymond Community Television and will be sent to the 9/11 Memorial as part of its program on resiliency, to illustrate the town’s resiliency, and its commitment to remembering and paying respects to the 3,000 Americans, many of them just going about their daily lives, who lost their lives that day...gmacalaster@newstote.com..